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SYDNEY households are no longer the nation’s wealthiest after being overtaken by residents in Melbourne, Perth and Canberra.

New figures also show the nation’s richest households are expanding their wealth three times faster than the poorest groups, sparking calls for more taxes on sources of wealth such as property. More >

Qantas Airways said Friday that more than 11,000 passengers will have their travel plans thrown into disarray Monday by strike action planned by engineers at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airports.

The Australian airline said it has cancelled 40 flights, delayed 24 by up to 3.5 hours and brought forward an additional 14 services. Of the delayed flights, 11 are international, with the rest domestic, Qantas said.

Two extra flights loaded with Warriors supporters will leave New Zealand to arrive in Sydney later today as finals fever mounts.

Thousands of die hard fans are already swarming the city as the excitement builds ahead of Sunday’s NRL Grand Final.

One ultimate fan has gone to extra lengths to be in Sydney for the big showdown with the Manly Sea Eagles at ANZ Stadium.

A man has been charged with murder, following the shooting death of a man at Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s southwest.

Police say a man aged in his 20s was found lying in the gutter of Kincumber Road shortly before 3pm (AEST) on Sunday, following reports that shots had been fired.

Police arrested a 20-year-old man at Surry Hills Police Station about 11pm on Sunday.

Seven squatters who barricaded themselves inside an abandoned building at the University of Sydney have being dragged off the roof by riot squad officers and arrested.

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A passenger miraculously survived a light plane crash into the sea off Sydney after an onlooker plunged into the ocean in a rescue attempt, according to reports.

But the pilot was believed dead following the crash just off a northern Sydney beach, as passers-by were unable to free him from the wreckage.

The aircraft sent a mayday alert before coming down some 50 metres (164 feet) off Curl Curl beach. It could be seen on live television pictures lying on the ocean bed.

Journalist Paul Lockyer will be farewelled today with a memorial service in Sydney.

Lockyer and fellow ABC employees Gary Ticehurst and John Bean died after their helicopter crashed while filming a documentary at Lake Eyre a week ago.

The cause of the accident is still being investigated. Lockyer’s former colleague Gary Burns says he was a remarkable man.

Tiger Airways Australia resumed flying today, operating three return flights between Melbourne and Sydney.

Flight TT558 was Tiger’s first since its July 1 grounding by CASA, departing Melbourne for Sydney around midday with a host of invited dignitaries and Tiger CEO Tony Davis onboard.

“We have probably gone through the most vigorous safety analysis of any airline in Australia, so CASA are happy, we are happy,” Davis told ABC News.

Sydney has been blessed with an amazing run of winter warmth but unfortunately it is going to draw to a close this weekend.

Already a change is brewing in the south-west of NSW, with cloud and rain moving into this part of the state with a cold front, Alex Zadnik, chief meteorologist at Weatherzone, said.

Northerly winds reached gale force through the Snowy Mountains before this change with gusts to 130km/h recorded at Thredbo this morning.